With a new “operational tactical concept”, Austria wants to combat people smuggling in the Hungarian border area and thus stop refugees. The number of Austrian emergency services, currently 30, will be doubled to 60, the Interior Ministry said on Monday. The Austrian police officers will therefore also be active on Hungarian soil to pick up refugees.
This is done “in the presence of Hungarian officials”, which was already possible. Details will be announced on Tuesday on the bridge in Andau by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) and General Michael Takacs.
70 officials from Austria at the border between Hungary and Serbia
The operation goes under the name “Operation Vos”. 70 Austrian emergency services have already been deployed at the border between Hungary and Serbia.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the legal basis for police cooperation between Austria and Hungary is the Prüm Treaty for enhanced cooperation and information exchange between EU countries to combat terrorism and cross-border crime, as well as a bilateral cooperation agreement between Austria and Hungary.
Hungary: Hardly any opportunities for asylum seekers
It is hardly possible for asylum seekers in Hungary to submit an application. However, Austria must protect its border, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) said in the ORF press hour on Sunday. “Preparations have been going on for months to help the Hungarians,” Nehammer said in reference to the “joint police action”.
Diakonia denounces performance
“Austria is probably complicit in a violation of international law,” Christoph Riedl, Diakonie’s asylum officer, told Ö1-Mittagsjournal on Monday. Austrian emergency services would hand over those seeking protection to Hungarian officials, who would then be returned to Serbia “without seeking asylum,” Riedl said.
Hungary has deported thousands of people to Serbia without due process in recent years and has been repeatedly condemned for its asylum policy by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
